Tirumala, 15 June 2017: With an aim to give enhanced services to global pilgrims, TTD is all set release 44896 Arjitha Seva tickets for the month of September through online on June 16, said TTD EO Sri Anil Kumar Singhal.

Addressing media persons at Annamaiah Bhavan in Tirumala on Thursday along with Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju the EO in his briefing said that the temple management has received many requests and feedback reports from pilgrims stating that the earlier allocation of online quota of Arjitha Seva tickets is booked by those who have fast internet band width facility. “Keeping these suggestions in view, we made some amendments in the online quota soft ware. We have categorised the arjitha Seva tickets into two.

ONLINE DIP FOR SIX PREMIERE ARJITHA SEVAS

Six premiere tickets including Suprabhatam, Thomala, Archana, Visesha Puja, Astadala Pada Padmaradhana and Nija Pada Darshanam will be allowed through online dip. Henceforth all the pilgrims can book the online quota tickets.

Initially we are giving a week’s time to register. On June 23 by 12 noon we will take online dip and send SMS and e-mails to the devotees who received the tickets. After the confirmation of the ticket e-payment gateway also opens. Once a devotee gets the Seva ticket, he or she will get their turn only after 180 days”, he maintained.

Adding further EO complimented TTD workforce for making elaborate arrangements to multitude of pilgrims who thronged Tirumala temple during summer vacation and also thanked pilgrims and VIPs for co-operating with the management. “Under the supervision of our Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju all the departments carried out impeccable services. Be it Annaprasadam, vigilance in crowd management, health, tonsures, laddu wing, temple and Srivari Sevakulu, every one rendered extraordinary services to pilgrims during this peak summer”, he reiterated.

ABOUT 41 LAKHS PILGRIMS OFFER PRAYERS IN SUMMER VACATION

Later giving the statistics of Darshan, accommodation, laddu, Annaprasadam and tonsures in 2016 and current year the EO said, about 41.03lakh pilgrims had Darshan of Lord Venkateswara this year from 27 April to 13 June as against 37.52lakh pilgrims from 24April to 10 June last year in summer season. Adding further he said, TTD sold over 1,00,94,899 this year while 97 lakhs were sold during last while the beverages distribution increased by 34.7% and Annaprasadam by 24%. The occupancy ration also increased by 2% from 105% to 107% this year. In Tonsuring front about 21,96,392 pilgrims offered hair and this year the figure stood at 19,90,208 in summer. Our coffers received 122 crores this summer as against 128crores last year”, the EO said.

CHANGES NEAR VENDIVAKILI GIVING FRUITFUL RESULTS

The recent changes of in and out system made at Vendi Vakili is yielding positive results as majority of pilgrims are expressing happiness over the amendment. “We are now confident that we can easily implement this system without complaints of jostling up to 85thousand pilgrims. We will also provide the incentives to pilgrims who book rooms through online which will come to effect from July 1. However today on a trial base we reimbursed 25% to those who vacated the room within 18hours and 50% for those who handed over the rooms in 12 hours”, EO said.

HIGH END CC CAMERAS SOON

To enhance security set up in Tirumala, we are also contemplating to install high end CC cameras in Tirumala surrounding temple. “And also negotiating with Chief Vigilance and Security Officer and JEO for making amendments for betterment of scanning process also which will come up in next three to four months”, EO added.

WIDE PUBLICITY ON AADHAAR

There is need to bring awareness among the pilgrims about the importance of Aadhaar and the media should also give wide publicity on it. “Making Aadhaar mandatory will enhance transparency in rooms, Darshan and allotment of other privileges. I urge you all to give wide publicity. Very soon our mobile app will come into the service of pilgrims in other important vernacular languages also”, the EO informed.

Chief Information Officer Sri Sudhakar Bhaskaruni, GM and IT Chief of TTD Sri Sesha Reddy and others were also present.